Precision attachment device for a removable dental prosthesis

Abstract

The present invention is a precision attachment device for securing a removable dental prosthesis in the mouth, comprising a first section operatively arranged to be secured to a fixed tooth, a second section operatively arranged to be secured within the prosthesis, and also arranged to matingly engage the first section, the second section having a first mating member having a throughbore therein, and also having an elongated casing rotatably disposed within the throughbore of the first mating member; a spring loaded plunger member disposed within the casing and projecting therefrom, and, a retention member within the rotatable casing for limiting the extent of longitudinal travel of the plunger member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A precision attachment device for securing a removable dental prosthesis in the mouth to a fixed tooth, comprising: a first section (11) operatively arranged to be secured to the fixed tooth (13);   a second section (12) operatively arranged to be secured within the removable dental prosthesis (35 or 66), and also arranged to non-rotatably matingly engage the first section (11), the second section (12) having   a first mating member (26) having a throughbore (30) therein, the first mating member (26) being adapted to be non-rotatably coupled to the first section (11),   an elongated rotatable casing (28) rotatably disposed within the throughbore (30) of the first mating member (26), the casing having a laterally projecting portion,   a plunger member (32) disposed within the rotatable casing (28) and projecting therefrom and operable to hold the first mating member (26) to the first section (11),   spring means (33) mounted within the rotatable casing (28) and operable to bias the plunger member outwardly of the casing, and   retention means (29) carried by the laterally projecting portion of the rotatable casing (28) for rotational movement therewith, the retention means (29) limiting the extent of axial travel of the plunger member (32).   
     
     
       2. The precision attachment device as recited in claim 1 wherein the first section (11) includes a plate (14) having a first member (23) projecting from one side of said plate (14) and a dovetailed spline (15) projecting from an opposite side of said plate (14), wherein the dovetailed spline (15) is adapted to matingly engage a corresponding dovetailed groove in the fixed tooth (13), and the first member (23) is adapted to be non-rotatably coupled to the rotatable casing (28). 
     
     
       3. The precision attachment device as recited in claim 2 wherein said first section contains a projecting block extending from said first member to form a pair of channels between said plate and said projecting block to receive a portion of said second section. 
     
     
       4. The precision attachment device as recited in claim 3 wherein the projecting block (18) of the first section (11) contains a recess (19) to receive the plunger member (32) and also contains a cam surface (20) vertically positioned above the recess (19) to guide the plunger member (32) into the recess. 
     
     
       5. The precision attachment device as recited in claim 1 wherein the elongated rotatable casing comprises a cylindrical shell having a threaded throughbore (43) therein, and wherein the retention means (29) within the rotatable casing (28) for limiting the extent of axial travel of the plunger member (32) comprises a second cylindrical shell operatively arranged to be screwed into the threaded throughbore (43), and a threaded set screw member (44) operatively arranged to be screwed into the second cylindrical shell. 
     
     
       6. The precision attachment device as recited in claim 1 wherein the rotatable casing (28) and attached retention means (29) are operatively arranged to rotate up to 360° about an axis (a) of the casing. 
     
     
       7. A precision attachment device for securing a removable dental prosthesis in the mouth, comprising: a first section (11) operatively arranged to be secured to a fixed tooth (13), the first section including an essentially rectangular plate (14) having a dovetailed spline (15) protruding from one side thereof, the spline containing a bore (100) to receive a positioning mandrel (96),   a recess (19) in a second side of the plate opposite the spline, and   a beveled surface (51) on the second side of the plate, the beveled surface being adapted to function as a guide;     a second section (12) operatively arranged to be secured within the removable dental prosthesis (35 or 66), and also arranged to matingly engage the first section (11), the second section including a rotatable casing (28),   a plunger member (32) disposed within the rotatable casing (28) and projecting therefrom,   spring means (33) mounted within the rotatable casing (28) and operable to bias the plunger member outwardly of the casing, and   retention means (29) within the rotatable casing (28) for limiting the extent of axial travel of the plunger member (32),     wherein the spring loaded plunger member (32) functions to mate with the first section (11), the beveled surface (51) acting as a guide for insertion of the plunger member (32) into the recess (19).